Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-25


sAas q any other daily paper published in
W.ehf.srsn, and much greater than tina,
e al the other daily papers here added
Together.
The bill introduced in the senate yesterday to
dame the routes Of steam railroads in the Dis
enet provides for union depot upon Armory
square. "he benefits and safeguards proposed by
the oil DO not compensate for this gift of public
reservation IL the Interests OF washington are to
be considered The plan OF public grounds ex-
tending from the Capitol to the river south OF the
White House should not be broken up for railroad
purposes. The reservations, the breathing
places OF the city, should not be clegged and
ooSbructeu for that or any other purpose. III
Washington were little prairie town, living by
virtue OF its railroad connections, or hoping TO
live by securing a railroad connection bonus OF
this kind would not be extraordinary; but IL the
railroads here wish to retain depot grounds in the
heart OF the city, let them condemn and pay for
property like other roads in other cties,-Phila-
oelphia, for instance. IL is hardly possible that
In order to obtain the boon OF n union depot and
relief from some OF the evils OF present railroad
practices, the beauty and harmony of the city
parking must be permanently dishgured and the
health spots OF the city given the corpora
tions.
The proposed legislation proceeds upon
the theory that Congress IS never content
unless &c Is giving away the, public grounds
20 some railroad or other corporation, or in
dumping some architectural nOnStrosity
upon them like the new Pension Office. At the
present rate OF progress, in ten years time there
viii not be rod square OF ground in all the gov
eminent reservations that is not occupied by
railroad depot with all it dirty surroundings. or
an 3ltttudinous criSS-crOSs barn Ike the Pension
Office, or a squatty, tOad-shaded, zebra-striped
atrocity like the National Museum, or all
attitNdinfz1ng brass horse, standing on three
legs, or two legs, or possibly one leg
The railroads can hardly be blamed for propos-
ing to appropriate Arnory square without paying
for it. From their point Of view there is modeSty
and diffdence about the request which seems to
suggest that they have taken to heart the recent
senatorial denunciation of their doings in the Dis
trict and are slightly nervous and baShful. Why,
bless your honest souls, MessrS. Corporations, the
senators did not mean anything, Indignant
words are only the vents of energy which might
otherwise result in action. Next time ask with
confidence for the best in sight and all that you
think you can get. There is a NICE level space d.
rectly east OF the Capitol building which is public
ground and will therefore cost you nothing. and is
admirably adapted for depot purposes. From that
site the work OF s1de-tracking bOtn houses of Con-
EreSs can proceed with greater facility. And the
STAR ventures TO suggest, with the Giffidence of q
professional, that the rotunda OF the Capitol
would make a capital round-hOuse.
Following close upon the suspiciously polite d.
plOInacy OF senator Bayard, the unequivocal old
fashioned English of Secretary Manning, and the
retaliation bill OF Chairman Perry Belmont comes
now the plain, unvarniShed speech OF Senator In
gals, redolent with the spirit OF war-war with
Great Britain over the fisheries question.
Every American who is patriot and not lingo
viii appreciate the necessity. in view of what is
going on in the cabinet and in Congress- OF making
n vrfIl
STATIONS from ridicule- If the truth be told We
are In no condition to do ourselves justice In war;
Our coasts are nl-defended, or not defended at all
and our navy is at! its best on paper. With the
same indomitabfe energy which We discovered on
both sides OF Mason and Dixon's line quarter
century ago. We could make preparations OF some
sort very fast when the need OF them was pressing.
But IN the meantime the well-equipped navy OF
England would doubtless play the mischief with
our New York and other coast cities. The leading
statesmen OF Germany and France have agreed,
during the last few weeks, that the best way OF
preserving peace is to keep always in condition for
elective onenSe or defense. That is true One
hundred million dollars spent in strengthening
harbor Notifications and building navy would be
a better investment than billion or two spent in
carrying ON war.
Returns from western railroad earnings continue
TO be satisfactory. Traffic Is larger than last year
the work OF building continues steadily, there Is
10 such Violent activity in that direction as to
outrun the legitimate demands OF trade SILK and
paper manufacture In this country are enjoying
4 period OF uncommon activity. The consumption
Of raw material by American silk mills has about;
doubled in six years; and our paper-makerS are re-
ceiving from England large orders for their book
STOCK, the English publishers preferrng our wood
pulp paper 10 the products OF the mills at home !
Cotton and wooden goods are firm in price with a
quiet but constant demand.
in Speculation the great operators seem to have
let the produce markets alone for while The |
hyelier fluctuations in Railway stocks have been
confined almost wholly TO southern enterprises |
Last week the bear party took advantage OF the |
excitement over the Interstate commerce bill to
drive down the quotations of trunk line securities
but the natural tendency of the market showed |
1tseif In positive advance on the part OF roads
lying within the bounds Of single states and |
therefore unaffected by acts OF Congress Such |
Duoyancy In the face OF a spirited attack all along
the line demonstrates the complacent tone OF feel
ing which pervadeS the stock market and which |
doubtless only reflects the tone In other lines or
trade. Altogether, the people Of the United states
nave very good reason 70 congratulate themselves
on the prospects Of the opening business season |
III they can avoid recurrence OF last springs
Lfcor disturbances on the one hand and steer
Clear OF reckless speculation on the other, they
Vusnt I'D enjoy year or marked prosperity
The death OF General Charles p StOne-or Stone
Pasna, as he was called in the Egyptian dispatches
Tor several years-will probably revive a discus
SION or the grounds OF the treatment he re-
eeiVed from the United States government dur
Ing the civil war His controversy with Sena
Tor sumner In 1851 his course as commander
OF FEDERAL troops In Maryland in restoring fugitive
slaves To their masters, exceedingly spirited
and Is by many believed to have been the direct
cause or hts Incarceration In Fort Lafayette for
more than six months without trial and even
"ltnoQt being informed OF the charges against
him. Those were times, OF course when many as
Sertions OF the power OF the government were
Wanked at which would ordinarily be condemned
as tyrannical; and General Stone bore his hard
tate with manly fortitude. The older generation
VI Wasningtonians viii bear him in kindly remem-
ORANGE for hrs services the organizer OF the Dis
int militia FOR the defense Of the city before the
troops from the north could be moved TO this
punt General Scott had every confidence in him
ana IL seemed odd that the first assault upon his
reputation for loyalty should have come from the
1eAuhS senator Vi his own native state of Massa-